Berks County man who allegedly made threats toward the White House is getting out of jail

View full sizeExpress-Times Photo | BILL ADAMSRichard Schoudt, of Longswamp Township, is led from District Judge Todd Strohe's office after a hearing this morning. He was arrested by Bangor police after he threatened to take a machine gun to the White House and harm the president. His bail was reduced today so he can be released from prison.

A 60-year-old Berks County man who in November threatened to take a machine gun to the White House will be released from prison later today.

Richard Schoudt

, of the 1000 block of Mountain Village Drive in Longswamp Township, had his bail modified this morning during a brief hearing before District Judge Todd Strohe. Schoudt's bail is now $25,000 unsecured. It was initially set at $100,000 cash.

"If you act out in any way, you'll be back in jail so fast your head will spin," Strohe told Schoudt.

Strohe impressed upon Schoudt the importance of complying with his bail conditions and appeared hesitant to lower the bail.

He had stopped at a Bangor day care center to ask for directions when he made the threats.

"This is not a man who had a machine gun in his car or who was going to make the four-hour drive to Washington D.C.," Goodrich told Strohe. "He had a very bad and unfortunate day that day."

Schoudt was arrested and charged with harassment, disorderly conduct and making terroristic threats. He gave up his right to a preliminary hearing on the charges and plans to plead guilty to at least some at his formal arraignment in Northampton County Court. Goodrich indicated to Strohe a negotiated plea deal had not been completely worked out.